The Divide - The Legendary Pink Dots

I was brushing my teeth when the power went down

You kow, you can’t be prepared for that

That electric toothbrush just ceased functioning and I didn’t have a clue

I tried a manual spin in my mouth, but hell, it was early

And my fingers just weren’t fast enough

I grabbed the soap — both hands

Bit it as if it was a burger

But it was disgusting and pointless as the essence of last night’s excesses

were still there

Decided on a strong coffee to disguise that lingering taste

But of course the coffee machine was dead

But sure, I felt kind of pathetic, but I decided to call the housekeeper on my

mobile.

As I had no idea of how to change a fuse

The phone said: «Battery empty, please recharge»

Great!

It was time to get the hell out of this apartment I punched in the exit code

Five, six, seven times.

Nothing happened

I pounded — Just pounded on that reinforced, heavily-padded, soundproofed Front

door of mine

And wondered if it was just me

Of course it was just me!

I found out at around 9pm that I wasn’t alone when the first light went off in

the great glass tower across the divide

9pm — Monday night

Normally the time to switch off that computer

Order in Malay Kofta, samosas, a carton of wine

Put the feet up.

Read a book

I know you’re laughing

But I still firmly believe that technology isn’t everything

Instead, I found myself stumbling around on borrowed illumination

I found half a packet of crackers left by my last girlfriend a few weeks ago

And ate them — slowly

Then I just curled up on the couch

And of course I slept badly

Now I mark the days

Much like a castaway on a raft on the open sea

Little blue lines on the wall with that antique ball-point pen

But it’s drying out now

But I’ve given up the shouting

I’ve given up the pummeling because it’s pointless

I’ve tried to establish a routine

I even tidied up the place with my bare hands

But it’s not gonna be long now

The last thing I did before the power failed was to command the bank to make

all of my regular payments automatically.

On an appointed date

You see, I didn’t want them to come looking for me

I’m reasonably wealthy.

I will not be saved by the bill

I really hope you appreciate the humour I’m showing at this rather

inappropriate moment

Lately, I’ve been wondering if any of my networking friends and acquaintances

miss me

Frankly, I doubt it

Sure, I’m decent company

I spin the odd, inspired one-liner

I’m amusing, but face it — Hardly essential

And I know what you’re thinking

It looks bad, doesn’t it?

But you don’t have to worry

Understand that I have accepted my fate

None of us — not even you — will go on forever

And well, look — I have a shelf packed with books